Friday, Oct. 3, 2003 | 10:25 a.m.
WHEN UNLV HAS THE BALL UNLV run offense vs. Nevada-Reno run defense The return of a healthy Larry Croom from a pulled thigh muscle should strengthen an already potent Rebels running game. Croom was well on his way to a 1,000-yard rushing season when he pulled up in the first quarter of UNLV's 46-24 loss at Kansas after already gaining more than 100 yards in less than 12 minutes. He gives the Rebels more of a power back to go along with improving junior speedster Dominique Dorsey, who put together back-to-back 100-yard games against Wisconsin and Hawaii. Dorsey, in fact, enjoyed his finest hour at Reno in 2001 when he set a Mountain West Conference freshman rushing mark with 180 yards on 18 carries. Nevada has a solid, veteran defensive line led by preseason WAC defensive player of the year Jorge Cordova and senior tackle Derek Kennard Jr., and is allowing just 119.0 yards per game rushing.
Edge: UNLV.
UNLV pass offense vs. Nevada-Reno pass defense The Wolf Pack rank just 63rd in the nation in pass defense allowing 206.5 yards per game through the air, a mark that would probably be even worse if they hadn't just come off playing against an SMU offense that has been simply pitiful throwing the ball the past two years and ranks 109th in pass offense (130.75 yards per game). Pack also suffered a huge loss when fifth-year senior rover Ronnie Hardiman was lost for the season with knee injury. He has been replaced by a redshirt freshman, Nick Hawthrone. UNLV's passing attack under first-year starting quarterback Kurt Nantkes has been erratic although wide receiver Earvin Johnson is having another all-conference type of year.
Edge: UNLV.
WHEN NEVADA-RENO HAS THE BALL Nevada-Reno run offense vs. UNLV run defense If Nevada is to spring the upset and snap its three-game losing streak to the Rebels, this is the area they'll have to dominate. Junior running back Chance Kretschmer had 163 yards against the Rebels at Mackay Stadium two years ago en route to leading the nation in rushing as a freshman with 1,732 yards and 15 touchdowns. He seems to have regained his John Riggins-like form since undergoing surgery on his left knee last September and is eighth nationally in rushing with an average of 127.8 yards per game. Kretschmer runs behind a large and veteran Wolf Pack offensive line led by junior right tackle Harvey Dahl (6-5, 309) and sophomore center Kyle Gosselin (6-5, 280), both of whom have possible NFL futures. Rebels defensive line has been solid against the run allowing just 119.0 ya rds per game but could be minus standout defensive end Dietrich Canterberry (sprained knee).
Edge: Nevada-Reno.
Nevada-Reno pass offense vs. UNLV pass defense At the start of the year you probably would have given the Wolf Pack the edge here. But sophomore starting quarterback Jeff Rowe, expected to be on a par with former Nevada-Reno star David Neill, struggled badly in his first two games and has since been replaced by junior Andy Heiser, who is a better runner but also hasn't lit the world on fire throwing the ball so far. He has completed 53 of 100 passes for 710 yards and five touchdowns but also has been intercepted four times, including twice in the first half of last week's 12-9 slugfest victory against a SMU squad that had been torched for an NCAA-record seven touchdown passes by Oklahoma State's Rashaun Woods a week earlier. The Wolf Pack have a solid group of receivers led by sophomore Nichiren Flowers, a former prep teammate of Rebels running back Domi nique Dorsey, and 6-foot-4 JC All-American Willie Johnson.
Edge: UNLV.
SPECIAL TEAMS UNLV has had the Mountain West's special teams player of the week in three of the four weeks the Rebels have been eligible for it. Punter Gary Cook has been a key weapon, especially when it comes to pinning opposing offenses inside their own 20-yard line which he did seven times in the Rebels' 33-22 win against Hawaii two weeks ago. He also is averaging a healthy 42.4 yards per punt and should be fired up to impress the home folks from nearby Truckee, Calif. Senior placekicker Dillon Pieffer is off to a big start as well with six field goals in seven attempts while also compiling seven touchbacks on kickoffs. And freshman Tremayne Kirkland has added a big spark to the Rebels' punt return game with an average of 14.7 yards per return.
Edge: UNLV.
INTANGIBLES After three consecutive Fremont Cannon losses, you can bet Nevada-Reno coach Chris Tormey will pull anything and everything out of his bag of tricks to try to pull off an upset in this one. He should have a typical rowdy, battery and beer-chucking crowd behind him which should be even more feisty thanks to a 7:05 p.m. kickoff. Expect a very inspired effort from both teams, especially a Nevada squad that no doubt is sick of hearing about how it hasn't been able to paint the cannon blue in three years.
Edge: Nevada-Reno.
COACHING Nevada-Reno coach Chris Tormey has done a nice job of building his program into a WAC contender from the bottom up. However, the natives are getting a little restless in Reno after three consecutive losses to UNLV and it wouldn't hurt his job security to pull off an upset Saturday night. UNLV coach John Robinson has been at his best in rivalry and bowl games over the years as evidenced by his 8-3-1 mark against Notre Dame at USC when it was referred to as college football's greatest intersectional rivalry and his 4-0 mark in the Rose Bowl.
Edge: UNLV.
KEYS TO VICTORY To win, UNLV must ... 1. Stop the run. Nevada-Reno's bread and butter is pounding opposing defenses with stud tailback Chance Kretschmer, one of the toughest backs in the nation to tackle one-on-one. If the Pack finds itself in second or third and long, they're in big trouble.
2. Play with emotion. You would think this would be a natural in a rivalry game but the potential exists for the Rebels to come out a little timid after a bye week. Ask USC.
3. Get some production from Nantkes. If the Rebels passing attack can ever come close to matching the production of the running game, look out.
To win, Nevada-Reno must ... 1. Start fast. If they can jump on the Rebels early like they did in last year's 31-28 home upset of BYU, it should make Mackay Stadium an even rowdier place to play in.
2. Possess the ball. With both quarterbacks Andy Heiser and Jeff Rowe struggling so far this season, it's imperative that the Wolf Pack get Kretschmer and their power running game going.
3. Avoid turnovers. UNLV's aggressive blitzing defense has forced 11 turnovers in its past two games which was a huge factor in both of their wins over Wisconsin and Hawaii. THE PICK UNLV 28, Nevada 17 -- Steve Guiremand
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